Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)

I want to encourage everyone from Munster and nationally to come to the National Monument on Grand Parade in Cork this Saturday at 2 p.m. for Raise the Roof for Munster and raise the roof for people who are crying out for housing. I will provide the Minister with an example of what he has done. I am not being personal, but the Minister needs to understand the consequences of his actions as the Minister for housing. I know a 68-year-old lady, Maria, whose family has lived in a house for 90 years, a house that was supposed to be purchased under the tenant in situ scheme. She will be evicted, at 68 years of age, because the Government gutted the fund and pulled the money. She has an adult daughter and cried when she has contacted me. Imagine the stress she is going through. What is the Government doing? She has worked all of her life and has done everything right.

Another 50-year-old lady cannot get on the social housing list because she is just over the limit and cannot afford to rent. She is caught in the middle. She asked me, "What must I do? I have done everything right. I went to college. I worked hard all my life. I am 50 years old and they are putting me into homeless accommodation". That is on the Minister. He is the Minister for housing. The buck stops with him. What will I or the Minister tell those ladies?

Does the Minister have any idea how bad things are out there for ordinary families and workers? People are praying to God that they will not be evicted and can stay with their parents. I will ask the Minister a question I asked the previous Minister for housing. How many children must become homeless in this country before he finally admits that his policies are wrong? It takes a man to stand up and say he made a mistake. This Government has made mistakes over ten years. As the new Minister for housing, will the Minister stand up and accept that we need a radical change in housing policy? Will he start it or will he do the same again?

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